UKRAINE
FIFA World Ranking: 24
Previous Best: Group Stage 2012 & 2016 (Previous winners as part of Soviet Union)
Last 5 Euros (Latest first): Groups-Groups-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ
How Qualified: Winners Group B
Qualifying Record: P8 W6 D2 L0 F17 A4 GD13 Pts20
Tournament Odds: 100/1
Squad
Goalkeepers: Georgiy Bushchan (Dynamo Kyiv), Andriy Pyatov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Anatolii Trubin (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Defenders: Oleksandr Karavaev (Dynamo Kyiv), Serhiy Kryvtsov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Mykola Matviyenko (Shakhtar Donetsk), Vitaliy Mykolenko (Dynamo Kyiv), Denys Popov (Dynamo Kyiv), Eduard Sobol (Club Brugge), Oleksandr Tymchyk (Dynamo Kyiv), Illia Zabarnyi (Dynamo Kyiv), Oleksandr Zinchenko (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Roman Bezus (Gent), Yevhen Makarenko (Kortrijk), Ruslan Malinovskyi (Atalanta), Marlos (Shakhtar Donetsk), Mykola Shaparenko (Dynamo Kyiv), Taras Stepanenko (Shakhtar Donetsk), Heorhii Sudakov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Serhiy Sydorchuk (Dynamo Kyiv), Viktor Tsygankov (Dynamo Kyiv)
Forwards: Artem Besedin (Dynamo Kyiv), Artem Dovbyk (Dnipro-1), Roman Yaremchuk (Gent), Andriy Yarmolenko (West Ham), Oleksandr Zubkov (Ferencváros)
Group Fixtures
June 13 vs Netherlands (8pm – Amsterdam)
June 17 vs North Macedonia (2pm – Bucharest)
June 21 vs Austria (5pm – Bucharest)
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History
As a standalone country, Ukraine have largely disappointed in the European Championship. They have qualified for the event once and got into the event as the host nation on another occasion but both times they failed to come out of the group. When you consider the talent they have had at their disposal through the years that has to be considered a failure. One of those great players – Andriy Shevchenko is in charge looking to do what he couldn’t as a player and get his nation into the knockout stages for the first time.
Qualifying
Ukraine were incredibly impressive in qualifying, so much so that they actually finished above the defending champions Portugal in their group and topped it in some style. Not only did they win the group but they went through it unbeaten, which included a 2-1 win over Portugal in the penultimate game of the section which actually sealed their place at these finals. The other highlight of their campaign was a 5-0 win over Serbia on a night where it all came together. Roman Yaremchuk topped their scoring statistics in qualifying with four goals.
Pandemic Effect
I think it is fair to say that Ukraine would rather the tournament came along when it was scheduled last year. Since qualifying for this event they got relegated in their Nations League group and haven’t managed to win any of their opening three World Cup qualifying matches. Andriy Yarmolenko has barely been used from the start by David Moyes at West Ham which would be another concern for Shevchenko and his charges.
Strengths
Ukraine as generally a solid side defensively although there are question marks over that defence at the very top level as we saw in the Nations League group. The strength of this side probably comes in midfield where they have a nice balance of steel and creativity mixed in with a good amount of flair in the wider positions, as you would expect a side managed by a legendary striker to have, particularly one which relies so much on countering the opposition.
Weaknesses
Most of the weaknesses of this Ukraine side are mental ones rather than technical ones. They will constantly be being reminded of their terrible record in tournaments and even four years ago they were unable to escape a group which featured Northern Ireland and Poland, losing all three matches without scoring. They need to be more comfortable on the biggest stage. You also never know how the tensions between the players of the bigger clubs in Ukraine will balance themselves out.
Manager
Andriy Shevchenko was massively well known for his exploits and achievements as a player and now he is looking to showcase what he has as a manager in what is his only coaching role to date, stepping up to the main job having previously been an assistant coach of the side. He took charge after the dismal showing at the last Euros and has been in the job for five years now, finally getting the chance to manage on the tournament stage. His record as Ukraine coach reads: P45 D21 D13 L11.
Key Players
West Ham United midfielder come attacker Andriy Yarmolenko is the most recognisable player in this Ukraine squad but whether he carries the form into the tournament to be one of their standout players remains to be seen. Therefore if Ukraine are going to offer anything of note in this competition their hopes might rest with the feet of Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi, who had an excellent impact in qualifying and will need to make a similar impression here.
Team Bets
I think the Ukraine are dark horses to win their group. I certainly think they should beat Austria and North Macedonia and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they get something out of the Holland game. If they do win the group then not only will they be guaranteed four matches in the tournament but they would face a third placed side in the round of 16 which would enhance their chances of making the quarter finals of the competition.
That is perfectly possible so I actually think the odds against on them to find the back of the net more than four times in the competition looks a decent price. I say that for a couple of reasons. I do think they get at least four matches so that is only an average of a goal a game with an extra one on top but when this Ukraine side get going they can really run up the goals. They bashed five past Serbia in qualifying and warmed up for this tournament by sticking four past Cyprus. Ukraine have actually only failed to score once in their last 11 matches that were actually played. With weak sides like Austria and North Macedonia to get stuck into and a possible third placed side as well I will take Ukraine to score more than 4.5 goals.
Tips
Back Ukraine Over 4.5 tournament goals for a 2/10 stake at 2.20 with Bet365
